RNS Number:4778P
El Oro Mining&Exploration Co PLC
08 September 2003

          Embargoed for release until 7.00 am on Monday 8th September

   Merger of El Oro Mining and Exploration Company p.l.c. ("El Oro") with The
                   Exploration Company p.l.c. ("Exploration")

                       CHANGE OF NAME & START OF DEALINGS

                SHARE CAPITAL AND HOLDINGS IN THE MERGED COMPANY

The merger of El Oro with Exploration is now effective. The merged entity has
changed its name to 'El Oro and Exploration Company p.l.c.' (the "Company") and
the cross holdings between El Oro and Exploration have been cancelled.

Dealings in new stock units in the Company will begin today, Monday 8th
September.

The total issued share capital of the Company is # 597,146.35 consisting of
11,942,927 stock units of 5p each.

The Parish family have notified the Company that following the merger of El Oro
with Exploration, they were allotted new stock units in the Company in
consideration for the surrender of their El Oro shares, as follows:


Clement Robin Woodbine Parish                    839,544
The Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell Parish           20,895
Emma Woodbine Houston                            648,069
Suzanne Kumaramangalam                           665,987
Caroline Zegos                                   339,668

Following the merger of El Oro with Exploration, the Directors of the Company
were allotted new stock units in the Company in consideration for the surrender
of their El Oro shares, as follows:


Clement Robin Woodbine Parish                    839,544
The Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell Parish           20,895
Emma Woodbine Houston                            648,069
David Richard Lindsay Hunting                        248
Robert Elmer Wade                                 17,047
James Anthony Wild                                11,281


The Parish family have notified the Company that following the merger of El Oro
with Exploration, they hold stock units in the Company, as follows:


Clement Robin Woodbine Parish                  1,607,666
The Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell Parish          342,851
Emma Woodbine Houston                          1,592,226
Suzanne Kumaramangalam                         1,554,644
Caroline Zegos                                 1,171,770


The Directors of the Company, following the merger of El Oro with Exploration,
hold stock units in the Company as follows:


Clement Robin Woodbine Parish                  1,607,666
The Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell Parish          342,851
Emma Woodbine Houston                          1,592,226
David Richard Lindsay Hunting                        248
Robert Elmer Wade                                 35,047
James Anthony Wild                                15,281


Enquiries


El Oro  and Exploration Company p.l.c.               0207 581 2782
Robin Parish


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

MERBRGDCLBGGGXU